A little bit of a late posting… but this was the flip house we were working on in our “free time” and we are very happy with the results. It is always nice to be working with great realtors, Kylie Baker and Lindsay Ousley, who had the house sold before we were even finished with the project. We couldn’t be happier that this house went to a great family who we know will love it just as much as we do. Let us know how we can help you in finding a property to turn into your dream home, helping you with a 203k loan, or renovating your current home. Call 765-432-6631 for a FREE estimate.

A quick montage on getting an aerial shot of the beautiful Sycamore Farms in Kokomo, Indiana for our wonderful client, Cardwell Built. For property tours and more, visit us online at smallGIANTdesigns.com

Here is a before and after of a roof we just finished. Would you like to earn some extra summer CASH? Here is how: If you know us you have probably have seen our quality work. So from now until the end of summer anyone who refers us to a roofing job that we do complete (20 SQ. MINIMUM) and the customer either gives us your name or you give us someone to talk with you will get $100 cash, IT’S THAT EASY!!!

FAST AND FREE ADVICE The average home spends about $1,900 a year on energy costs. But you can lower your energy bills and help save the environment at the same time! Be a speedy chef Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove. Turn up your thermostat Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away. Using ceiling or room fans allows you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room. Always take into account health considerations and be sure to drink plenty of fluids in warm weather. (Save: 1 – 3 percent per degree, for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees) Use your appliances wisely To help prevent electricity outages, avoid running your appliances during peak hours, — from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — or anytime an electricity emergency is declared. Always use cold water Do your laundry efficiently by using the warm or cold water setting for washing your clothes.

Recent tallies show a third of U.S. credit scores fall below 649. While not impossible, acquiring a mortgage loan will likely be more difficult and more expensive at this level than with higher scores. Here are the fundamentals to guide you in establishing and maintaining a healthy score: The somewhat obvious: Borrow only what you can afford to repay Make all of your payments on time Avoid excessive requests or inquiries for credit Have an emergency account to pay for unexpected expenses Check your report annually to contest and remove any erroneous information The not so obvious: Do not open new store credit cards just to save on a purchase. New accounts can lower your score, and too many payments can be difficult to manage. Saving 10% on a $300 lawn mower means little if it costs you even just fractionally more on a $300,000 home loan. Do not open new accounts just to transfer balances for an introductory rate. In addition to possibly lowering your score, these offers often have traps. Instead, use them to leverage a lower rate from your existing card company. Do not close old accounts. If you have a good record of payments on […]

First off…what does the term “pre-approval” mean? Pre-approval means that the lender is confident that you can make the necessary down payment and that your income is sufficient to cover the mortgage payments. At this stage, only one concern remains. The lender needs to make certain that the property’s value offers sufficient collateral in relation to the loan amount. In other words, the home must be appraised for an amount more than, or equal to, the purchase price. Why is it important to get pre-approved? When you’re ready to make a purchase offer, both your real estate agent and the seller will most likely want to see a pre-approval letter. This proves that you’re likely to be able to make the purchase and, therefore, you can be taken seriously. In a competitive housing market, sellers prefer a pre-approved buyer to those who, for all anyone knows, might be unable to close the deal. How do I get pre-approved? Before you roll up your sleeves and start house hunting; understand what should happen BEFORE you set out on the home buying adventure. Getting pre-qualified can be the key in making a desirable offer on your dream home. That can be paramount; especially if […]